Boca Raton, FL - The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team hopes another year of experience will help lead the team to a successful season in the Sun Belt Conference. With the start of the season just one week away, www.fausports.com takes an inside look at the 2011-12 Owls, beginning with the team's deepest position: the backcourt.

Senior Teri Stamps, a three-year letter winner, leads this experienced unit. She is the team's floor general, leading last year's team with 61 assists. Those leadership and playmaking skills should help increase the squad's offensive production from last season, when the team averaged 59.4 points per game - eight points less than the 2009-10 season, when the Owls had had an experienced backcourt.

Sophomore Kimberly Smith will move into the off-guard role left open by preseason all-conference third team selection Breana Turner's injury. Smith made 24 three-point field goals and started 18 games as a freshman.

"Experience and leadership will be keys to this upcoming season. We're fortunate to have experienced returning off-guards in Teri and Kimberly," said Chancellor Dugan, FAU's head women's basketball coach. "While we will miss Breana's contributions, others will step up and fill roles in the lineup. They're room for others to make a name for themselves this season."

Sophomore Takia Brooks will anchor the point guard position after making 11 starts last year. She made 37 percent of her three-point field goal attempts last winter. Senior Viviana Penate provides depth with ball-handling duties.

Dugan is looking for the backcourt players to set the pace on offense and defense this season.

"We're blessed to have a quality point guard, Takia, who should play a vital role in our success this season," said the veteran FAU coach during the preseason. "Kimberly (Smith) benefitted from playing several positions last year as a freshman, and she will provide an outside shooting threat. Latavia (Dempsey) made big strides to improve aspects of her game with strong spring and summer seasons. I believe our backcourt players learned valuable lessons from last year and will have strong seasons this year."

The Owls open the season on Friday, November 11, against Warner Southern University at 7 p.m. in the FAU Arena, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Live statistics and audio of the game can be found at www.fausports.com.